Meaning & Origins

In modern use, probably directly from the vocabulary word (Greek ēkhō, which reached English via Latin). In classical mythology, this was the name of a nymph who pined away with love for Narcissus until nothing remained except her disembodied voice. Although the Greek word purports to be derived from the name of the nymph, in fact the word is of Indo-European origin, and so the truth seems to be that the nymph was invented to explain the word.

English: one of the most common and widespread of English surnames, either a nickname for someone who was fond of dressing in this color (Old English grēne) or who had played the part of the ‘Green Man’ in the May Day celebrations, or a topographic name for someone who lived near a village green, Middle English grene (a transferred use of the color term). In North America this name has no doubt assimilated cognates from other European languages, notably German Grün (see Gruen).